The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-04
HE WAS ALMOST THERE,
A story Of Ii,tlo CoIorsA hoy
who Was Doing Home.
New York Star

who Was Doing Home.
New York Star.
"Aun' Chloe, hain't We mos dar,
"Ye sonny, almos' dar, praise de
good Lawd; ye' almos' home I yer
old daddy n Sue"
Hit do seem, Aun' Chloe, dat or
was powerful tired; amos tuckered
out nut tn go tn sleep. Kin or lay
or napl"
The old colored woman and the
little colored boy were quaint look.
ing figures as they sat 10 a train of
the Northern railroad of New Jer-
sey, which had just left Tenaay.
bound for New York. The boy was
sick. You could SEQ that at a glance.
His eyes were sunken and the lines
we're drawn about his mouth so hard
that he seemed to suffer. His eyes
glowed with an unnatural light. and
he moistened his parched lips with
his tongue. The colored woman HON
he called "Aunty Chlso" was a
motherly old body, and talked to the
boy as she would to baby.
Gently drawing him 10 her side.
she put her arm around him, and he
closed bis eyes and slept.
"Po boy; yOu's mighty bad, pears
ter me; n hit meks m ole heart
bleed ter see you lookin' so weak {"
murmured tho woman tenderly
"fous powful hungry to see 70
people, halnt yer" and she patted
his cheek lovingly. when yo mud
der, vginny, went ter de golden Ian =,
she GLIB yer ter me n said. Chloe,
tex car Of dis child n fore Gawd,
Ell tried ma bcs'."
On rushed the train through the
meadows. The windows were open
aud through the smoke and steam
we're waited the fresh odors Of new
hay and fragrant flowers. And the
boy still slept.
.Hooo- 5000. .od The shrill
whistle startled the boy and he sat up,
Hit war on'y do whist honey"
said Aunt Chloe, and the boy sank
back.
"Aun' Chloe" he said. and hi.
voice sounded low and far away,
myi"
She wid de Lawd. Gawd blcs.
her"
IN woon err never see herr"
| Yes, honey, when you goes home
dar, too"
"Aun' Chloe. wen or wu, ssleep,
er dreamt about ma nanny, n Of
seed her. n she put out her hans
ter me, n or hcerd her say-jes low
like-'Come homo hyah 10 me,
Sammy-'n Aun' Chloe-er-wanter
20"
hesin he slept, and Aunt Chloe
wiped AWAY the tears in her eyes.
The hoys lips moved. None but the
waichlul aunt heard the voice, and
II was 80 low that only words could
be heard. Then IL grew distinct, but
no louder:
"Er-see--ycrl Yes, err see yer,
nanny. or know YER"
Through to meadows. into Jersey
Citv ercd the train. And the boy
still slept. Gradually tho lines about
his mouth soitened and he smiled.
His face seemed to glow with an in.
visible lisht, aud he opened his eyes
and smiled again.
". We mos home. Aun' Chloo2'
he .,kcd.
Mos homo, honey"
Suddenly he leaned forward. his
thin hpgors stretched eagerly out
ward
Hear dat. Aun' Chloe" he wbis.
rercd "do'an yer hear hit2 ain hit
sweet Oar. now, lis'cn sharp, Aun'
Chloe Lower aud lowor his voice
sank "Dar abe is. Aun' Chloe
Look, obcr dsr in tho cohner. Yes
mammy. or will. Yes-Auu' Chloe
see de-wait fer yer boy. nanny
Aun Chloe, er iecl mighty weak
an'-dar she is Yes. yes: cr-Aun'
Chloc-tell-daddy -dst.-dat-dat-
CIR hn-gopc- home-ter-ma-m
nanny, Aun' Chloe-Auu'-Aun'
Chlse."
"Lemme LUX at yer. Goo'-by-
hun Chloe; yer been sood-ter-
mc-'n-'en goin'-home."
Lower he sank in tho scat, and
lover sank bis head on his breast.
Nanny" he murmurcd-"msm.
my-wait-fo' - yo' - boy. Aun-
Chloe-wot-msk'-hit so light"
Lower his head sank. "Yes-cr m
-comin'-msmmy" Aud his eyes
closed.
People looked M AZ the clad cry,
but they saw Only an old colored
woman, crying softly over boy who
he'd zone home ter his nanny"
They had not heard the rustic OF the
angels wines
Ga rushed the train through the
city. And the boy slept.